| John Austin |
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Originally hired as a Cadet Journalist at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in Sydney, he worked in the national and also regional newsrooms as well as in the news and programs area of radio station 2JJ, now 2JJJ. Two years later he furthered his journalism experience by transferring to the ABC Newsroom in Townsville where he also expanded his radio documentary making experience. It was at this time that he came across the distinctive style of Queensland politics, imbued at that time with the likes of Premier Joh Bjelke Peterson and his ministers. Also in the Townsville newsroom John was introduced to television reporting and produced the nightly news bulletin for the Far North. In late 1981 he moved to Brisbane as a reporter for ABC Radio Current Affairs which produces the programs AM, The World Today and PM. Over the next six years he reported on the rich arena of Queensland life, politics included. He became CAFFR Brisbane Bureau Chief and continued to produce radio documentaries. In 1987 John moved to ABC Television as a reporter for the 7.30 Report. For the next eight years he reported, produced and on occasions presented the then top rating current affairs program. In 1993 he was seconded to James Cook University to teach into the University’s new media and journalism program for indigenous students. Broadcasting in remote Queensland indigenous communities was the thesis topic of his Master of Arts which he gained in 1999. At JCU John also developed the proposal for the establishment of a Bachelor of Journalism - a program which continues to this day. John returned to the ABC and in 1995 resigned to take up the position of Senior Media Advisor to the Minister for Education in the then Goss Labor Government. Four months later that government lost power and was replaced by the Coalition Borbidge Government which invited John to take up the Senior Media Advisor role with the incoming Economic Development and Trade Minister. The Borbidge Government lost power in 1998 and John explored employment opportunities in corporate communications and public relations as well as surviving a short stint as associate producer with the Channel 7 programme, Today Tonight. A summary follows:
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John Austin's 28 year journalism background includes working across the communications sector - in the news medis, as a senior journalist and broadcast producer, and corporate communications and public relations manager.